In a recent interview my area's member of the US House of Representatives heard three clearly-stated questions in a row on the subject of anti-discrimination protections for the workplace. The reporter set aside four or five minutes of radio for the interview, and he asked his questions repeatedly (and politely) when they were dodged, so listeners readily could judge for themselves that the representative was not willing to speak about the issue. Later, the audio was posted online so others could link to it and share and replay it.

The representative's replies--they were not answers--relied on stock phrases always at hand when she is not willing to honestly expose her position. As Andy Fitzgerald says, this repetition of stock phrases is propaganda, without a doubt, but the well-trained journalist structured his report in such a way that the dodge or deception was clear to us. Properly structured journalism explicitly undermines propaganda, even simple examples like this one. Careless journalism, weakly structured, without enough space or time, without follow-up, without integrity or courage, is a gift to this sort of politician. As I listened to the broadcast, I was proud of the standards set by one area journalist at WSBT and angry and ashamed of our Indiana 2nd district member of Congress.

[Posted as a comment on the Andy Fitzgerald article at the Guardian.]